Pennsylvania HB 1554: An Act designating the Hynerpeton bassetti, a stem tetrapod, as the official State fossil of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and making a repeal.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1837
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1554
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BOROWICZ, STENDER, ROWE, VITALI AND VENKAT,
JUNE 4, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 4, 2025
AN ACT
Designating the Hynerpeton bassetti, a stem tetrapod, as the
official State fossil of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
and making a repeal.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Findings and declarations.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Hynerpeton bassetti is a specific type of extinct
tetrapod and an early four-limbed vertebrate that resembled a
modern day amphibian.
(2) Hynerpeton, meaning "crawling animal from Hyner," is
unique to this Commonwealth and was discovered in 1993 at the
Red Hill fossil site near Hyner, Pennsylvania.
(3) Due to the robust structure of the shoulder girdle,
the Hynerpeton was thought to have very powerful muscles,
which aided it in walking and swimming.
(4) The fossilized remains of Hynerpeton bassetti were
only found at the Red Hill fossil site, making this
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vertebrate unique to this Commonwealth.
(5) Naming the Hynerpeton bassetti as the official State
fossil of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will promote
appreciation, education and the study of fossils in this
Commonwealth.
Section 2. Official State fossil.
The Hynerpeton bassetti is selected, designated and adopted
as the official State fossil of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
Section 3. Repeal.
The act of December 5, 1988 (P.L.1113, No.138), is repealed.
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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